Appendix C]
E.—2.
increase of 573 over those of the previous year. Classes in needlework, recognized under clause 26 (c) of the Manual and Technical Regulations, were conducted at six schools. The roll number was sixtytwo, and the average yearly attendance fifty-three. Three schools were unable to find instructors, and in consequence no work was done throughout the year. Swimming and Life-saving. —Only six classes were recognized|in|this subject|during year. It is to be regretted that more schools do not recognize the value of swimming and life-saving as a physical exercise, apart from its utility value. The average yearly attendance was 200. Woodwork, Cookery, and Dressmaking. —As in previous years, these classes were conducted at centres, to which the pupils from surrounding schools came for instruction. Centres were in operation at Gisborne, Hastings, Waipawa, Dannevirke, and Woodville. The manual-training centre at Napier, it is hoped, will be built some time during 1919. The work in cookery and dressmaking classes throughout the district has been very satisfactory. Cood work has been done in woodwork at Hastings and southern centres, but the work at Gisborne centre requires to be greatly improved to reach the standard of two years ago. The work exhibited at the annual agricultural and pastoral show at Hastings in October last was most creditable, and instructors, teachers, and pupils alike are to be congratulated upon the exhibits. The table below shows the number of classes and the average yearly attendance :— Number of Average Classes. Attendance. Woodwork .. .. .. .. .. 27 517 Cookery . . .. .. .. -.. .. 26 445 Dressmaking .. .. .. .. .. 26 456 79 1,418 The number of classes and the pupils in attendance also show an increase over the previous year. Most of the pupils in these classes show considerable interest in their work, and good progress was made during the year. In the junior classes in cookery most of the time was devoted to practical work, although a fair amount of theoretical work was attempted, mostly of an experimental nature. In the second year (rural course) a greater amount of time should be devoted to the theory of cookery and the scientific principles underlying the practical processes. A greater amount of attention should be given to the supervision' and correction of notebooks. Science Classes. —During 1918, classes in elementary science were conducted in 130 schools. These included fifty-nine in agriculture, fifty-one in agriculture and dairy science, and twenty in elementary experimental science. The numbers of classes and average yearly attendance are as follows : — Number of Average Classes. Attendance. Elementary agriculture .. . . . . . . 59 844 Agriculture and dairy science .. .. .. 51 1,087 Experimental science .. .. .. .. 20 690 130 2,621 During the year classes in agriculture and dairy science were held at Woodville, Dannevirke, and Hastings for teachers who were taking those subjects in the upper standards. The classes were well attended. Scientific apparatus and materials for indoor science-work were supplied to forty-nine schools. A number of schools still make no attempt to improve their surroundings or to beautify the school-grounds. This is a phase of the school-work in which the Committees could be of great assistance to teachers. I would suggest that improvements should be commenced by hedge and tree planting on Arbor Day. School-gardens arc not used to the best advantage, and few teachers make use of the garden for nature-study purposes. A number of teachers in the small schools are uncertificated, and have received no training in science-work. It is impossible for these teachers to take the science-work required by the regulations. It is hoped that the day is not far distant when the Education Department will insist that all teachers receive a course of training before they commence their career as teachers.
CANTERBURY. Extract from the Report of the Supervisor of Manual Training. With respect to elementary handwork, there has been considerable development in the teaching of all subjects coming under this heading. As was pointed out in my last report, it was not to be expected that such a large district could be brought into one harmonious whole without a considerable amount of trouble, especially as some of the schools in the outlying parts of the district had not previously taken up any form of handwork, and the teachers were totally unacquainted with the requirements. However, to a great extent this difficulty has been overcome, and there is now distinct evidence indicating a great improvement in the handwork done in the district. In spite of the fact that all handwork material was hard to obtain, and the material available was a high price, the Board was able to supply all schools with material to carry on constructive work in paper and cardboard
V
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